Chapter One

Emma Swan grinned as she poured the remains of her coffee into the shiny white farmhouse sink. Her new condominium, a “smart” condo, had every flashy gadget on the market. She’d immediately downloaded the required apps to her smartphone the day she arrived. With a swipe of her finger, she now controlled the lighting, music, room temperature, security, and smoke detection. A touch screen on her refrigerator told her when her lettuce expired or if she needed milk. She was satisfied that no one could come to her door without her seeing and hearing them first, so the condo was worth every penny she’d paid for it. Not that Emma expected a visitor. She’d only moved in three weeks ago.

Right out of law school, she’d purchased her first condo, which was twenty years old. The bonus: It was on the beach. At the time it was expensive, but worth it for her view of the white sand and water. She hadn’t had a dishwasher in her old condo, so now, out of habit, she washed her cup, dried it, and returned it to its hook next to her bright red coffee maker.

Four years ago, when she made her final mortgage payment, her intention was a total condo makeover. But work had gotten in the way—as usual—and it never happened. Nearing thirty-two, Emma knew she didn’t want to continue to practice law; no more hustling or working twenty-four-seven. After graduating high school early, she’d gotten a head start on college. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education before law school and kept her teaching certificate current. After practicing corporate law in Miami for almost ten years, she now yearned for a slower-paced lifestyle. Harris, her law partner, always teased her about that.

Before Harris could convince her to stay, she’d sold her original condo, hired her replacement, and bought the home she now occupied. The day she placed her condo on the market, she also sent her résumé to several schools in Conch County, where she now lived.

The week before, she’d been called to substitute for a kindergarten class at Orange Grove Elementary. Emma knew she’d made the right decision because she’d smiled all day at the children and their silly questions. The innocence in their pink-cheeked, wide-eyed little grins made her happier than corporate law ever had. She was content to substitute until a full-time position became available, and she made each free day special, taking the opportunity to explore Pink Pearl Cove. Though she hadn’t confessed it to anyone, one of the many reasons she’d chosen this small beach town on an island off the Gulf Coast was its name. Low crime and great schools were a bonus.

Her parents had been in their late forties when Emma entered their lives, unplanned. Both attorneys, they’d left her mostly in the care of Lydia, her nanny, who treated her as though she were her daughter. When Emma did spend time with her mom and dad, they doted on her, but only for what seemed like seconds. Then she was returned to Lydia for the remainder of whatever time her parents were at their luxurious home in South Miami Beach. They had spent more time away from her than with her. Sadly, both were now gone, but she did have happy memories of them.

Now it was time for her to make her own memories.

Emma planned to spend a few hours by the pool reading the book she’d picked up at the library. Who am I kidding? she asked herself. In the past three weeks, she’d become fascinated by the guy in the condo directly across from hers. So far, she hadn’t seen another female enter his apartment. He also defined tall, dark, and handsome, so she’d amused herself by watching him.

“Stalking is more like it,” she whispered to no one. It was Saturday, so Emma guessed her neighbor might spend the afternoon at the pool. It was one of the upsides of living in Florida. The pools were heated and the weather warm enough so she could swim throughout the year, even in March.

In the bedroom, she changed into a kelly-green, one-piece swimsuit. It was her favorite color and complemented her olive complexion. Emma tied her dark brown hair in a loose topknot and glanced at herself in the mirror. She was the spitting image of her father, especially her brown, almond-shaped eyes. At five foot nine, she wasn’t as tall as his six foot four, but tall enough to want to bring a pair of flats on the few blind dates Harris had managed to finagle her into. Being taller than her dates always bothered her. She thought of her neighbor. He appeared to be as tall as her father had been, maybe taller.

“Come on, Em,” she again said to no one. She needed a social life now that she had time. Grabbing her book, beach towel, and sunscreen, she located her keys on the new dolphin-shaped key ring holder she’d hung up near the door just last night. Pink Pearl Cove had dozens of shops she wanted to explore; the key ring holder had been her first purchase at Susie’s Sea Stuff. Her cell phone buzzed, reminding her to bring it with her too.

“Hello,” she said, using her shoulder to hold the phone to her ear. Closing the door with her foot, she headed to the pool. “I’m fine, Harris. You don’t have to call me every day.” Her former partner was twenty years her senior. He’d always teased her and treated her like one of his daughters. He had five of them, so what was one more, he would say.

“I’m just checking in—wanted to see how life’s treating you in Pinkville,” Harris said.

Emma laughed, “It’s Pink Pearl Cove. It was the right decision for me. I taught a bunch of five-year-olds the other day. I hated for the day to end. You know I’m subbing right now.” He did know that, but she mentioned it anyway. “It’s fun work.”

“Yep, I’m sure it is. You sound happy, kid. So on that note, behave yourself. I’ll check in soon.” He hung up just as Emma located a lounge chair by the pool’s deep end.

Unwrapping the towel from her waist, she wished she’d remembered to wear her cover-up. But it was too late now. Arranging the towel on the chaise, she sat down, applied sunscreen, then focused on the book she’d been waiting to read. Emma flipped through the pages of her novel for the next half hour, captivated by the characters trapped in a department store during a tornado.

“Mind if I sit here?” a deep male voice asked.

Emma slammed her book shut, holding it in front of her chest and briefly closing her eyes. It must be him.

“Uh . . . no,” she sputtered, feeling like a teenager.

She dared a glance at the body next to her. His tanned legs were long and muscular, but no way was he the neighbor she’d had her eye on. He didn’t appear tall enough. Should she ask him his name? No, she decided. Even in this age of online dating, with eHarmony, Tinder, and Zoosk—none of which she’d ever used—she wasn’t the type to make the first move.

Emma returned to her novel but couldn’t focus on the storyline with the stranger lounging beside her. She was hot, but didn’t want to draw attention to herself. But if she were going to live here, she’d have to make friends. She might as well start by making a big splash. Literally.

Growing up in Miami, she’d spent hours in the pool and on a diving board. Standing at the edge of the pool, Emma concentrated on her dive. Her toes lifted away from the pool’s coping, and she sliced through the aquamarine water like a pro. She swam to the shallow end and back before coming up for air. Wiping the water out of her eyes, Emma lifted herself out of the pool and returned to her chair. Using her towel, she blotted her wet skin. Glancing at the chaise beside her, she saw the guy appeared to be sleeping. Doing her best not to attract attention, she returned to her novel. Again, she became so involved with the story that she forgot about the man in the lounge chair.

Suddenly, a giant wave of pool water hit her book, soaking it. Before she could say anything, a young woman around her age approached the pool’s edge. “Hey, I didn’t mean to splash you. My nephew double-dared me to do a cannonball. It looks like I win the dare and owe you a book.” The woman pushed herself out of the pool. “I’m Marlena. I live here with my husband, Walter. We’re babysitting for my sister-in-law today.” She motioned to a young boy, who appeared to be eight or nine, splashing in the pool.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Emma Swan, in Four-C.” Emma smiled.

“I know,” said Marlena. “When there’s a new homeowner, everyone knows. We’re like a nosy little community among ourselves.”

Emma tucked that tidbit of information away for later. “So, tell me about this nosy little community. Anything special I should know?” She sounded teasing—but she wasn’t.

“Provided the weather is cooperative, we have a cookout here at the pool the first Saturday of every month. We have a food fund. Walter and I own Vittles, the local market, so we pick up the food. It’s a good time, a get-to-know-your-neighbors kind of thing. Nothing fancy. You should come next month.”

“I will.”

“So let me know about the book. I’ll get you a new, dry one.”

“It’s a library book,” Emma said, lifting her brows and grinning.

Marlena nodded. “I’ll buy three copies, then.”

Emma laughed. “One is enough. I’m sure the library will understand.”

“You don’t know Mrs. Whitton. She epitomizes all the negative images of a librarian drilled into me as a kid. She’s been around since we moved here. I think she was the town’s first librarian.”

“Surely a damaged book isn’t . . .” Emma searched for the right word. “. . . that big a deal?”

“It’s not to most folks, but Mrs. Whitton is very serious about her books and their care. I’m surprised you got a library card so soon.”

A whiny, high-pitched voice interrupted them. “Aunt Marlena! Are you going to play with me? I’ll tell Mommy if you don’t hurry up.”

“I’m coming, Jeffrey.” Marlena rolled her eyes and mouthed to Emma, He is such a brat.

“Go on, and I’ll let you know Mrs. Whitton’s reaction.”

“Please do,” Marlena called over her shoulder, then made a second giant splash in the pool.

Emma knew she would be friends with this feisty woman. Deciding she’d had enough sun for one day, she scooped up her towel and book, then wrapped her damp towel around her waist.

As she returned to her condo, she planned a cool shower and a salad for dinner while she waited for her book to dry out on the balcony. Plus, she might catch a glimpse of her neighbor across the way. Who knew?